The Star Wars Games EA Should Make

If you care anything at all about gaming or Star Wars, you’ve probably already heard the news: EA Games will be making all Star Wars “core games” for the foreseeable future. While many whine about EA’s shortcomings, I see big potential in what I hope EA will create.

Why am I not more skeptical? Well, for the record, I am still sad to see LucasArts go, and the promisingStar Wars 1313 in particular. But there’s not much we can do about it, so we might as well “live in the now,” as they say.

Sure, EA has a reputation for harsh working conditions and unfair treatment of its employees, and they’ve put out plenty of stinkers over the years. But I’ll give them this much: EA is smart enough to realize the opportunity Disney’s given them here. Because they’ve handed over the Star Wars reigns to their very best and brightest studios: DICE, Visceral, and BioWare. Those three development studios have very strong track records, which should translate into some killer Star Wars games.

Let’s break it down.

DICE

Who They Are

Digital Illusions Creative Entertainment, based out of Sweden, is the creator of all things Battlefield. They’ve created (or are currently making) a total of twenty-five Battlefield titles, counting expansion packs and add-ons. You’d be forgiven for thinking they’re a one-trick pony, since Battlefield is by far their biggest success. But they also made Mirror’s Edge, worked on Need For Speed: Hot Pursuit, and handled the multiplayer component of the recent Medal of Honor reboot.

I mention all that just to say that it’s possible they could be working on any kind of Star Wars game. But really, there’s only one franchise that suits DICE. And it doesn’t just suit them, it fits them like a custom-made, tailor-fit, full-grain leather glove. It’s a match made in gamer heaven…

What Star Wars Game They Should Make

Do I even need to say it? It’s so obvious it hurts.

DICE should be making Battlefront 3!

Everybody knows the Star Wars: Battlefront games were basically Battlefield-meets-Star Wars. Who better than the creator of Battlefield to restore Battlefront to its former glory? The first two games were a blast to play, and among LucasArts’ bestselling games ever. We fans have been waitingforages for someone to pick up the Battlefront mantle and run with it.

So rejoice, Battlefront fans! Your day has come at last, and your beloved franchise is in the best hands imaginable.

Visceral Games

Who They Are

They’ve created high-profile games based on movie franchises before, including The Lord of the Rings, The Godfather, The Simpsons, and a handful of forgettable James Bond titles. It wasn’t until Visceral created its own IP that it stepped into the spotlight.

You know Visceral as the studio that created three bestselling games going by the name of Dead Space.

What Star Wars Game They Should Make

With their expertise at cinematic action and intense gunplay, Visceral would be a great choice to take over LucasArts’ 1313 and finish it. But I get the feeling that Disney doesn’t much care for 1313. When they canceled The Clone Wars TV series, one of the reasons given was that that show was set in the timeframe of the prequel trilogy, and Disney wants to look to the future. In other words, Disney would rather be making tie-in properties set in and around the same timeframe as the new movie trilogy they’re producing.

What does that mean for Visceral’s Star Wars game? Honestly, I’m not sure. If they were to pick up a fan-favorite series and update or reboot it for modern players, I’d love to see Visceral’s take on a new Jedi Knight game. Can you imagine a Jedi Knight game that oozes cinematic action and intense, nail-biting setpieces? The X-Wing/TIE Fighter games are another legacy franchise that fans have been begging to return to, but I’m not sure if Visceral would be the right choice for that kind of vehicular combat.

But the best choice for Visceral might be something altogether new and different. Maybe an FPS set in a part of the Star Wars universe no game has ever visited before.

BioWare

Who They Are

Probably the best-known (and bestselling) RPG maker in the world, BioWare is the company that brought you Mass Effect, Dragon Age, Baldur’s Gate, Neverwinter Nights… Need I go on? They’re also the only studio of EA’s chosen three to have actual experience making Star Wars games: they’re responsible for the classic Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic, and the more recent MMO, Star Wars: The Old Republic.

BioWare is kind of a big deal.

What Star Wars Game They Should Make

Who’s up for another Old Republic RPG? Eh, probably not going to happen. It would compete too directly with BioWare’s Old Republic MMO.

Personally, I’d love to see a deep, detailed, sprawling, open-world Star Wars game that takes players to all of the best worlds and locations from the movies. I don’t much care what the thrust of the plot is, as long as BioWare brings the same quality of storytelling and epic scope to Star Wars that they brought to Mass Effect. That series showed that they’ve got some serious skills at crafting shooters, too.

BioWare is our best hope for a truly immersive Star Wars game that puts you in that galaxy far, far away.

About Robin Parrish

Unathletic, uncoordinated tall man with endless creativity stampeding through his overactive brain. Comes with beard, wife, and two miniature humans. Novelist. General blogger and main Gaming Geek for ForeverGeek. Lead Blogger, Apple Gazette.

Star Wars NEEDS a sandbox type game so badly. I would kill to have that; imagine it, make your smuggler, merc, Jedi or whatever and hit hubs on various worlds. Pilot and customize vehicles in a Saints Row or GTA style sandbox. Use various weapons, gadgets, armor and of course Force powers from the Star Wars universe? It would be a hit!!

I’m still sceptical. Disney and EA are the kind of corporate a-holes that are only in it for the money. EA is known for the “christmas rush” and pushes the studios to get a game done by the holiday so more will buy it. Wouldn’t surprise me the least if a star wars title came out before 2014!